QuestCinq.com The Democratic-controlled Senate’s bipartisan compromise won swift approval by 81 votes to 18. It will now be sent to the House of Representatives, whose Republican leadership has begrudgingly said it will support the measure. It comes hours before the deadline to raise the $16.7tn (£10.5tn) limit. President Barack Obama is set to speak shortly at the White House. The deal would extend the federal borrowing limit until 7 February and fund the government to 15 January. The bill would also create a panel of Senate and House members to draw up a longer-term budget deal. Speaking after the vote,…

QuestCinq.com Retired Palm Beach County school teacher Estella Pyfrom reached deep into her own pockets to bring a literal busload of technology to children who didn’t have it at home. Now CNN is giving her $50,000 in recognition of her work and a chance to collect $250,000 more to expand on it. Pyfrom was named one of 10 CNN Heroes, billed as “Everyday People Changing the World.” The competition is considerable. But, maybe in Pyfrom’s favor, it will be the click of the mouse that determines the winner. Pyfrom, after all, is connecting children from elementary to high school to…

QuestCinq.com WASHINGTON — The Senate’s top two leaders announced a bipartisan deal Wednesday to reopen the federal government after a 16-day partial shutdown as well as avert an unprecedented debt default. “The compromise we reached will provide our economy with the stability it desperately needs,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who reached the agreement with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “This has been a long, challenging few weeks for Congress and for the country. It is my hope that today we can put some of those most urgent issues behind us,” McConnell said. House and Senate leaders…

QuestCinq.com Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said Wednesday that he will not block a deal in the Senate to end the shutdown and avert default. “Of course not, I never intended to delay this vote,” Cruz told reporters. “The timing would not impact the outcome.” His comments came as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced they had to come to an agreement to open the government until Jan. 15, and extend the debt ceiling through Feb. 7. Congress needs quick action to avoid hitting the debt limit on Thursday. And in order to bypass…

QuestCinq.com Lamar Odom could be your new landlord. The former Miami Heat forward is renting out his Pinecrest mansion for $17,000 a month, reports Realtor.com. The NBA player, who was on court with the LA Clippers last season but is currently a free agent, bought the house in 2009 for $3 million, according to county records. The 8,600-square-foot villa has six bedrooms, eight baths, a movie theater, pool, billiards room, wet bar, an outdoor kitchen, and a basketball/tennis court. The master suite not only features a Jacuzzi tub but also his and hers toilets. Odom reportedly renovated the 2002-built Miami…